Mayor Satisfied To Let State Oversee Cleanup At Texaco

Lockport Mayor Frank Mitchell said this week that he is content with letting the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency continue to monitor the cleanup at the former Texaco plant.

Mitchell raised the issue after the Lockport area environmental group Citizens Against Ruining the Environment recently questioned the cleanup. In recent years, Texaco has worked on soil and ground-water remediation at the 525-acre west side plant, which closed its refinery operation in 1981. Texaco, which hopes to complete its cleanup next year, still has a crude oil operation at the plant.

At a recent City Council meeting, Carol Stark, a board member for the environmental group, read a 1997 letter from the law firm, of Hinshaw & Culbertson of Rockford, which handles environmental matters for the Will County state's attorney.

The letter, which was never sent to Lockport, suggested that there is evidence of "substantial petroleum contamination" at the plant and that neither the Illinois EPA nor the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appears to be aware of the "existence or extent of this probable contamination."

The law firm suggested that a consultant be hired to monitor the cleanup. Stark said the environmental group also favors hiring a consultant, but Mitchell said that is not necessary.

Mitchell responded that he is "comfortable" with the state agency monitoring the cleanup. He said city officials would seek a meeting with Will County officials to discuss the status of the work.

Since taking office two years ago, Mitchell has been working with Texaco officials to create a business incubator in the two remaining office buildings at the plant.